A parent of a Kentucky State University (KSU) student has been charged with murder after an on-campus shooting that left one student dead and another critically injured, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
Police say 48-year-old Jacob Lee Bard, of Evansville, Indiana, was on the KSU campus in Frankfort on Tuesday when he opened fire at Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall, a student residence building. The shooting killed 19-year-old De’Jon Fox, a freshman from Indianapolis. A second student was also shot and remains in critical condition; officials have not released his name.
Investigation Underway, Motive Still Unclear
According to police, the incident was isolated, though investigators have not disclosed what led up to the shooting or a possible motive. Authorities have reviewed bystander videos and campus surveillance footage, but have declined to confirm widespread reports that a fight involving Bard’s sons preceded the shooting.
“It’s too early in the investigation to give any details,” Frankfort Assistant Police Chief Scott Tracy told reporters. “A lot of it would be speculation.”
University police were already near the scene when the altercation occurred and arrested Bard immediately. He has been charged with murder and first-degree assault, and is being represented by a public defender who declined to discuss the case.
Recent History of Violence Near the Dorm
The shooting is the second incident in four months at the same residence hall. On August 17, shots were fired from a passing vehicle, injuring two people who were not students. One victim sustained minor injuries, while the other was seriously wounded. Property and vehicles near the hall were also damaged.
Following the August shooting, the university increased campus police presence. President Koffi C. Akakpo said the school will reassess security again after the latest investigation concludes.
“The campus is a safe place,” Akakpo said, emphasizing the university’s commitment to student safety.
About Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University, a historically Black public institution founded in 1886, enrolls roughly 2,200 students. The campus sits about two miles east of the Kentucky State Capitol.